A Cup of Afghan Tea with the Editors of The New York Times

So what do yesterday’s nationwide tea parties and a protest march in Afghanistan have in common? They’re both highlights of conservative victories, successes (unsurprisingly) mostly ignored in the pages of The New York Times.
Tens of thousands of Americans rallied at tea parties on Wednesday to protest out-of-control federal spending. That’s probably news to the remaining handful of Americans who get their information solely from the “newspaper of record.”

The print edition of the Times provided a tepid write up of the parties on page A-16. “Although organizers insisted they had created a nonpartisan grass-roots movement, others argued that these parties were more of the Astroturf variety,” sniffed Liz Robbins.

Her piece was heavily reported — six people contributed in addition to the author — but seems to have missed a forest of protesters right in the newspaper’s front yard. While the Times provides a detailed count of the turnout in some cities (200 in Philadelphia, 500 in Pensacola, 2,000 in Houston) it glosses over the fact that 5,000 or so gathered near New York’s City Hall.

So what story lights up the Times’ front page, with two (below the fold) color photos? A march in Afghanistan, where some 300 women braved a crowd “three times larger than their own,” to protest a recently passed law that severely limits the rights of women.

“It was an extraordinary scene,” the Times reports. “Women are mostly illiterate in this impoverished country, and they do not, generally speaking, enjoy anything near the freedom accorded to men. But there they were, most of them young, many in jeans, [George Will cannot be happy] defying a threatening crowd and calling out slogans heavy with meaning.”

There’s a reason Afghan women are “mostly illiterate” and do not enjoy the freedoms men do. It’s because the country was run for years by the regressive Taliban. The Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan provides a handy list of some of the freedoms denied to women by the Taliban. See the bestseller A Thousand Splendid Suns for further examples.

Women in Afghanistan today have the ability to protest because the United States led a coalition to remove the Taliban in 2001 and allow an elected government to run the country. That’s the sort of fact that never seems to make The New York Times’ front page. Maybe that’s why the paper is waddling toward bankruptcy, while the anti-tax tea party movement will only grow stronger.

Join The Discussion

I attended the tea party rally with my wife. It was a great turnout, great speeches, and great enthusiasm.

It was invigorating to stand shoulder to shoulder with fellow Americans concerned about their future, but more importantly concerned about the future of the children and grandchildren.

With continued involvement, the fire that was set last night will spread throughout the nation into a full blown blazing bon-fire of hope, inspiration, and a knock out punch at the ballot box to remove those policitians who have been intoxicated with the power and have forgotten that they work for the people and not the other way around.

We had 5,000 excited people turn out in Olympia, Washington! They believe that goverment should be of the people, by the people and For the People! Not the other way around…Tea and testimonies of Pork and uncontrolled spending were displayed on signs and banners!!

Those who came to the capital were wanting elected officials to hear their concerns, such as: Don't mortgage our children's future by printing money we don't have..

This was a grassroots movement of people who feel they are not being heard… Can you hear us now??

Grassroot activities such as the successful teaparties need to continue regardless of the coverage, mocking, or ridicule coming from the drive-by media. Even with liberals running amuck in Washington, we are not powerless or without a voice.

We can not tune into MSNBC, CNN, etc. We do not need to give them any sort of ratings boost.

We can, and we will, remember this. We vote again in 2010. Our votes are our voice. We need to keep speaking and revealing the truth. Many, many people who voted for Obama are now disillusioned. These folks will listen to common sense.

Obama stated the other day that Government needs to increase spending during this recession. Families all across the US are cutting back to keep ahead of the economy. What we need to is a Government which understands that to get us out of this mess, they need to help Americans make more money. This happens by lowering taxes and not introducing ignorant taxes to "save our environment." More money in Americans' pockets will stimulate the economy.

Americans want:

1. To make more money – lowering taxes lets us keep more of our hard-earned money. We will spend it and save it – thus improving our lives.

2. To be respected in the world – we do not care if we are not liked. World relations is not a popularity contest. We gain respect by being strong – financially and via our military.

3. To be protected – we understand that the radicals of this world (Al Quaida, Taliban, Iran, etc) do not have our best interests in mind. They seek our destruction. We need leaders that put us first and understand who our real enemies are.

4. To be successful – we want Government out of ou way so that we can grow through innovation, creativity, and hard work. We will pay of our fair share. If others choice not to work and only seek a hand-out, they can receive proportionately what they contribute. We do not despise the poor. We believe the road to improvement is through hard work, dignity, and freedom – not through entitlements.

I attended two tea parties, one at noon in front of the NH State House at Concord to protest the spending and taxes in New Hampshire and the other at Portsmouth to protest the out of control federal government, spending and debt in trillions and trillions. It was great and was just the beginning. Although there are a lot of plans for the July 4th, I am hoping that we would invade peacefully Washington DC in millions with one petition to repeal all bailouts, spending beyond revenue, debt accumulation, and mindless printing of money and trashing of the dollar.

At Concord, there were about 1000 people and at Portsmouth, over 500 people. Excellent speakers with the uniform message of reduced government and spending that transcended party lines. There were many Democrats, Republicans, Independents, Libertarians at those rallies. It crossed color lines, ethnic lines and any other demographic divisions that the left is always trumpeting under their tent.

Don’t have time to read the Washington Post or New York Times? Then get The Morning Bell, an early morning edition of the day’s most important political news, conservative commentary and original reporting from a team committed to following the truth no matter where it leads.

Email address

Ever feel like the only difference between the New York Times and Washington Post is the name? We do. Try the Morning Bell and get the day’s most important news and commentary from a team committed to the truth in formats that respect your time…and your intelligence.